Bronchodilators are essential for treating asthma and other diseases that cause chronic inflammation of the airways. Short-acting forms work quickly to dilate the airways, while long-acting forms need to be combined with steroids. Anticholinergic drugs are used to treat emphysema. Over-the-counter dilators may not be effective for severe asthma. Side effects include shivering and a pounding heart.
Bronchial dilators are more commonly referred to as bronchodilators. They are an essential treatment for many people with asthma or other diseases such as emphysema that cause chronic inflammation of the airways or bronchial tubes. This inflammation restricts the passage of air. Often people with these forms of the disease have a condition called bronchial hyperactivity, which means that increased restriction and inflammation can occur suddenly when people are exposed to irritants, such as cigarette smoke, or allergy-producing substances, such as pollen. Part of the treatment of rapid inflammation may be the use of bronchial dilators.
There are a few types of dilators. Short-acting forms that contain drugs like albuterol cause the airways to dilate instantly. Dilatation means to widen or expand. When thinking about bronchial dilators, it can be helpful to imagine a dilated pupil, appearing much larger and more open. Dilators are meant to open up inflamed airways to give you more room to breathe. The short-acting forms work very quickly, but they do not cure the chronic forms of the disease and most of these drugs are inhaled so that they reach the bronchi quickly.
There are also long-acting forms of bronchodilators, which can be inhaled or taken by mouth. They often need to be combined with a steroid to be most effective, and that’s what drugs like Advair® and Symbicort® do. The most important thing to remember about these medications is that they usually don’t relieve the symptoms of the asthma attack as they occur. Most people will still need to keep a short-acting inhaler on hand in case an asthma attack develops.
Bronchial dilators can also be classified into a third group and called anticholinergic drugs. These are usually used to treat emphysema. They include drugs such as tiotropium, which is available in oral and inhaled forms.
There are also some over-the-counter (OTC) dilators. The OTC forms have drugs such as adrenaline. While they may stop the very occasional asthma attack, they may be of little use to people with severe asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Doctors recommend that people who have asthma see their doctor often to get prescribed medications that are best suited to their prescribed treatment.
There can be some side effects to many forms of bronchial dilators. They often contain elements similar to caffeine or ephedrine, and use can make people shiver and feel like their heart is pounding. These side effects tend to be less felt if people use a bronchodilator regularly.
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